Bottle closure



u 1 40 M. M. KIsT'NER 2,212,31

BOTTLE CLOSURE Original Filed Kay 22. 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fi zve nio /4 A4 71] Z M fizl sirzer m 414mm Aug. 20, 1940,

BOTTLE CLOSQRE Original Filed May 22, I935 2 Sheats-$hebt 2 Elva/21 07; Mew/'5' ZZ M K615217287 BY zi orvzgs.

M. M. KISTINER 2,212,371

Patented Aug. 20, 1940 UNITED STATE BOTTLE CLOSURE Merrill, M. Kistner, Chicago, 111., assignor to 0. Paul Parker, Evanston, andChester 1).. Kern,

, Chicago, 111., jointly Application May 22, '1935, Serial No.- 22,754

Renewed January 12, 1940 12 Claims. (01; 215-82 This invention relates to bottleclosures and more particularly concerns such closures embodying an improved pouring spout and tamper-proof sealing arrangement.

5 An object of the invention 'is to provide a bottle closure embodying a'oompact, unitary assembly adapted to be permanently secured to a bottle or like container and having an improved capped pouring spout over which is secured a novel visible sealing means which must be removed'or destroyed upon removal of the cap to discharge liquid from the bottle, thus providing an unmistakable indication'as to whether or not the bottle has been opened. 1

Another object is to provide a bottle closure including a capped pouring spout and means for securing the closure to the neck of. a bottle or like container which serves to anchor a ribbon-like strip passing over the cap in such a manner as Q to serve as a tamper-proof'seal which'must be visibly affected in order to open the closure.

Another object is to provide a bottle closure having a pouring spout closedby'a screw cap with a sealing strip overlying the top and oppo- 2 site sides of the cap and anchored at its ends in such a manner that the cap may be tightened freely without affecting the strip, but when the cap is'turned to unscrew. the same, the stripwill beplaced under such tension as either to break it or withdraw its ends from their anchored position, this stripvbeing relatively narrow in the portions adjacent the sides of the cap so as to allow adequate purchase for the finger'of a per- 35 sons hand in turning the cap.

Another objectis to provide animproved pouring spout of this character which will allow a relatively free entry of airinto the bottle when pouring liquid therefrom, and which is fashioned to issue a smoothly and uniformly flowing molded stream of liquid. 4

Another object resides in the provision of a sealed bottle closureincluding an improved pouring spout and tamper-proof sealing-arrangement 45 embodying a few snugly .interfitting metal parts fashioned for simplicity and ease of assembly and forming a complete self-contained unit that may be manufactured cheaply and which is adapted for permanent union with afilled bottle 50 by a simple operation.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanymg' drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bottle closure liquid from the bottle.

embodying the principles of the invention and shown as applied to a bottle.

Fig. 2 vis a sectional elevation of the closure and the bottle neck.

Fig. 3 is an exploded viewof the bottle closure. 5 r

Fig. 4 is an elevational view illustrating one manner in which the sealing strip may be removed when, opening the closure. 7 v

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views illustrating various pouring positions of a bottle to which the improvedclosure is applied. 4

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a modified form of sealing strip.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the deviceincorporating the modified sealing strip and showing the same as it appears after the seal hasbeen broken. a

While the invention is susceptible-of various modifications and alternative constructions, I

have shownin the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment; but: it is to be understood that I do not thereby in tend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. r

The features of the present invention are em.- bodiedrin a simple, unitarystructure fashioned to be assembled as a self-contained commercial unit and which may be affixed permanently to the neck ofa bottle or similar container after the latter has been'filled with liquid. Allparts of the device may be manufactured according to standardiz'edpatterns and are cooperatively arranged in such mannerthat the least possible number of parts is necessary for a complete unit.

The unitaryclosure organization is provided with a tamper-proof seal that. must be removedor broken in order to effect a full discharge, of 40 Furthermore, the device is adapted tov control the volume ofdischarge of liquid from a bottle havinga relatively large neck 'and'to this end provides an improved pouring' spout characterized by an arrangement 5 whereby the liquid will flow therefrom in a smooth and uniform, molded stream ofthe desired volume. v

With reference to the drawings, the invention I is embodied in a practical form in a closure unit In which is adapted to be aifixed. permanently to an annular neck 12 of simple design and forming part of a glassbottle l3 of any desired shape.

In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the closure [0 includes as a principal element, a

thin sheet metal pouring spout M which is preferably arranged in such manner that the quantity of liquid discharged from the bottle may be controlled easily and accurately. This is effected by an improved construction whereby air is freelyadmitted into the bottle to displace discharging liquid, and the flow of liquid is guided in a smooth converging path to issue in a stream sharply definedas to size and VOlLlIIlB. To this end, the pouring spout is of a substantially frusto-conical shape with its base of about the same diameter as the interior diameter of the neck 12. A lateral flange I5 is adapted to overlie the end of the neck [2 in parallel relation thereto and defines the position of the spout relative to the bottle neck. The outerand narrower end of the pouring spout is provided with adischarge opening, herein shown as developed into a pouring neck I! of substantially less diameter than the body of the spout and joined thereto by a gently arcuate shoulder l8 In this manner the effective flow area of the discharge opening'provided by the bottle neck is substantially restricted within defined limits. For closing the spout against the escape of liquid, the pouring neck I! is fashioned to receive suitable capping means being herein provided with threads H! for receiving a screw cap 20. It will be seen that when the cap 20' is removed, an unimpeded flow path is provided from the bottle neck through the pouring spout and pouring neck; and because of the gently sloping convergence of the annularly shaped spout toward the opening, the issuing stream of liquid will flow smoothly and will have a sharply defined round molded appearance. In order to secure the pouring spout l4 upon the end of the neck I2, means is provided which forms a permanent connection with the neck and is adapted to maintain the spout rigidly thereon. As herein shown, the neck l2 has an annular channel 22 formed in spaced relation to its outer end so as to provide a head 23. Embracing the head 23 is a skirt member 24 fashioned of suitable sheet metal, which at its lower end is pressed into the groove 22 to form a bead 25, the edge of which lies substantially within the curvilinear plane of the bottle neck so as to prevent the insertion of a'tool in an attempt to remove the skirt.

Beyond the end of the bottle neck, the skirt 24 is inwardly offset to provide a shoulder 21 in such relation to the flange I 5 as to connect the pouring spout to the bottle neck. To insure a liquid tight joint between the flange l5 and the bottle neck a gasket 28 of liquid-proof and relatively resilient material is provided. This gasket is compressed between.- the bottle neck and the flange as an incident to the slight longitudinal movement of the skirt and flange relative to the bottle neck resulting during the process of forming the bead 25. Since for practical reasons the spout I4 is preferably formed of relatively thin sheet metal, the pressure of the flange l5 against the gasket 28 may tend to distort the flange. For this reason a metallic disk ring 29 may be fitted to encircle the spout in snugly overlying relation to the flange l5 and directly in engagement with the shoulder 27 to form a reinforcement permitting substantial pressure to be exerted upon the flange. Thus, the pouring spout is rigidly and permanently connected to the bottle neck, and in orderto remove the same it will be necessary to destroy the {skirt -24. a

Bottlesinwhich liquidsof known characterism an qu i y such as fine bevera are 4. 5:;

2,212,371 pensed, are often times refilled with inferior.

liquid and the imitation disposed of as the genuine product. This fraudulent practice is of damaging consequence to the original producer because the user will not be aware of the deception due to the genuine, bottle in which the imitation is sold to him, and will thus unjustly attribute the inferiority of the imitation to the original.

To detect any attempt at such fraudulent practice the present invention contemplates a tamper-proof seal by which a visible disclosure will be had as to whether or not the bottle has been opened. For this purpose a sealing strip 30 of thin, flexible material is secured over the cap 20 so as to be removed or destroyed as an incident to pressure exerted thereagainst when the cap is screwed from the dischargeneck I! in order to open the bottle. As herein shown, the strip 30 may be formed as a narrow band fitting over the crown of. the cap 20 and having its ends extending along opposite sides of the cap and lying against the spout M. -A convenient manner of securing the ends of the sealing stripis provided by extending the outer end of the skirt 24 to form an arcuate collar 32 of pleasing contour and. having its outer edgeturned over .to provide a bead 33 adapted for engagement with the shoulder I8. I

Preferably the arrangement of the collar is such that coincident with assembly of theskirt with the spout the bead 33wil1 also be brought into proper position. Snug engagement between the bead 33 and the shoulder I8 is assured in the present instance by the provision of a groove 34 in the shoulder; and as may be seen in Fig. 2, the .1

bead serves to anchor the ends of the strip 3H in place by clamping these ends against the shoulder l8 Rigidity of the collar adjacent the bead 33 is insured by'the provision of an offset rib 35 which may be seen as breaking the even contour of the collar. 7

In order to prevent sidewise slipping of the strip 30 relative to the cap 213, the crown of the cap may be provided with a protuberant portion 36 of smaller diameter than the cap, and the I sealing strip may be provided with an enlarged portion 31 of similar shape as the crown of the cap and having an aperture 38 through which the portion 36 may protrude. Through this arrangement, the strip will be maintained against later- 1.;

al slipping and against forceful surreptitious movement to one side. Thus, the cap 26 may be removed only upon removal sealing strip.

or destruction of the A soft ductile material such as sheet aluminum which will break when placed under moderate tension by removal of the cap 20 may be used for the sealing strip. The broken strip will then visually indicate that the bottle has been opened (Figs. 5 and 6). be weakened at one or more suitable points so If desired, the sealing strip may that severance will alwaysoccur in a given manner. As seen in Fig. 7, for'example, notches 3'17 may be formed in opposite sides of the enlarged crown portion 3'! of the sealing strip. Through this arrangement the strip will be severed medially and similar tabs will remain on opposite sides of the pouring neck (Fig. 8). These tabs ofler very little obstruction and are'not likely to interfere with a proper discharge (of liquid.

In another arrangement the sealing strip may be formed of amaterial having greater tensile strength so that upon unscrewing thecap the ends of the strip will be withdrawn from their anchoredfposition between the bead 33andthe shoulder ii}, To effect this result, the portions of the strip extending between the 'collar 32 and [the body of the pouring spout should be of a length slightly less than'those parts of the strip extending fromthe bead 33 to the crown of the cap, so that when the cap is unscrewed to a position such as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 4 where it can be lifted from the pouring neck, the ends of the strip will be completely released. While the thickness of the sealing strip wherever shown in the drawings is considerably exaggerated for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that in practice an aluminum sealing strip, for example, may be only from .025 to .05 of an inch in thickness. space between the bead 33 and the shoulder will be so minute as to prevent a reinsertion of the ends of the strip and thereby insure that once the seal has been destroyed or removed it cannot be replaced.

The present invention contemplates such an arrangement of parts that the closure device may be assembled asa complete, liquid-tight,compact commercial unit which requires no further ad justment after assembly and which may be shipped to the user in readiness to be afliXed to a filled bottle by a simple operation. Each part, therefore, has been fashioned with a view to facilitating assembly and union so that the bottle closure may be produced cheaply and in large quantity on a commercial scale. Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the device may be assembled easily and. speedily in a minimum number of steps which may be carried out in substantially thefollowing sequence. The cap 20 may be screwed upon the pouring neck I! of the spout, following which thedisk ring 29 may be positioned about the spout flush against the flange l5, and the sealing strip 30 then fitted aboutthe cap 20 with its ends lying against the shoulder I8 of the spout. Completion of the assembly is efiected by placing the skirt member 24 in position about the spout so that the shoulder 21 engages the ring 29 and the bead 33 clamps the ends of the sealing strip in place, and then forming a crimp 3!! in the skirt for rigidly connecting the latter to the flange l5. In effect, it

will be observed, the adjoining edges of the flange -I5 and the ring 29 are gripped permanently within a laterally protruding channel in the skirt. Following assembly, all that remains to permanently affix the closure unit to the bottle is to place the gasket 29 upon the end of the bottle neck, position the unit by slipping the skirt over the head 23 of the neck, and spinning or otherwise pressing the bead 25' into the channel 22.

After the closure unit has been affixed to the bottle neck, the cap 20 may be tightened slightly if desired, but it will be impossible to remove the capeven partially without appreciably visibly affecting the sealing strip.. Where the sealing strip is of low tensile strength orhas been designedly. weakened for the purpose, the force exerted thereon as an incident to unscrewing the cap will cause the same to break; and where the strip is of greater tensile strength, the ends thereof will be pulled from their clamped position.

Preferably the material of the strip is such that it cannot be repaired, and replacement is not possible because the clearance between the bead 33 and the shoulder l8 isof such minute character as to prevent return of the strip once it has been withdrawn. The rigidity imparted by the bead 33 and the offset 35 prevents stretching the edge of the collar with an' instrument to effect It will thus be clear that the a sufficient opening to reinsert the end of the sealing strip. Moreover, due to its pliable or ductile character the sealing strip will present no sharp or jagged edges which might cause injury to a persons hand either when turning the :5 cap 20 or'after the sealing strip has been broken.'

As will be apparent, the sealing strip 30 coacts with that part of the device which is of substantially the smallest diameter and which is so' disposed that in handling or shipment of the assembled unit, either before or after the device has been assembled with a container, the parts of the device having greatest diameter will serve as buffers to guard the sealing strip from damage that might result from contact with objects in relative motion. After the sealing strip has been broken, the major portions of the severed parts thereof projecting from the joint between theshoulder l8 and the cooperating bead 33 on the retaining collar 32 may be torn away; but the relationship of the elements of the device is such that only with great difficulty and never with the fingers of a hand alone can suflicient grip be had on the severed parts of the strip in order to remove every exposed portion thereon As a re- 25 sult, even after the principal portions of the severed parts of the strip have been torn away, small tabs will remain in evidence adjacent the base of the pouring neck ll. As seen in Fig. 6, when the sealing strip is ruptured immediately adjacent the shoulder and collar joint in the opening movement of the closurecap, a short, substantially permanent tab is provided at once. Thus, the sealing strip after it has been ruptured leaves in evidenceon the device visible proof indicating that the container is no longer in its original state.

Because of its tapered annular construction, the pouring spout facilitates. a restricted discharge of liquid from the bottle, Upon referring 40 to Fig. 5, which represents a condition existing when the bottle is still substantially full of liquid, it will be seen that a substantial passage 43 is provided for entry of air to the interior of the bottle for replacing liquid discharged therefrom.=45

the pouring neck. Thus, the quantity of liquid discharged may be controlled with considerable certainty. Moreover, the gradually tapered form of the annular spout has the effect of molding a smooth and uniform stream of flowing liquid which will facilitate pouring the liquid into a receptacle 44. The moldedcharacteristics of the stream will be evident in any pouring position of the bottle, Fig. 6 illustrating this effect when pouring liquid from a relatively exhausted bottle.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a bottle having a' protruding neck, of a closure device including a sheet metal pouring spout having a substantially frusto-conical body with a-base of about the same interior diameter as that of said bottle neck so as to provide a substantially unrestricted flow path and air passage therethrough, a lateral flange around said base adapted to overlie the end of said bottle neck, a pouring neck of substantially smaller diameter. than said base on the outer end of. said spout and having cap engaging means thereon, a cap secured to said pouring neck for closing the same against escape of liquid and having a crown protuberance, an offset shoulder on said spout between the body and said pouring neck, a member encircling sa d 17.5

and bottle neck, a rigid disk ring fitting around said body to overlie and reinforce said flange, said member being fashioned intermediate its edges to engage said ring and flange for drawing the same toward said bottle neck to compress said gasket and provide a liquid tight joint, and a thin sealing strip having an apertured intermediate portion fitting over said cap With said protuberance fitting therethrough and having a pair of oppositely extending narrow legs clamped between said shoulder. and said bead so that said strip must be removed or destroyed in order to remove said cap.

2.. The combination with a bottle having a protruding neck, of a closure device including a sheet metal pouring spout having a substantially frusto-conical body with abase of about the same. interior diameter as that of said bottle neck so as to provide a substantially unrestricted flow path and air passage therethrough, a pouring neck of substantially smaller diameter than said base on the outer end of said spout and having cap engaging means thereon, a cap secured to said pouring neck for closing the same against escape of liquid and having acrown protuberance, an offset gently arcuate shoulder on said spout between the body and said pouring neck, a member encircling said body including an inwardly extending .outer edge with a turned-over bead engaging said shoulder and being secured near its other end to said bottle neck so as to connect said spout permanently to said neck, and a thin sealing strip having an apertured intermediate portion fitting over said cap with said protuberance fitting therethrough and having a pair of oppositely extending narrow legs clamped between said shoulder and said head so that said strip must be removed or destroyed in order to remove said cap.

3. A bottle closure device including in combination, an annular pouring spout having a pouring neck of substantially less diameter than the body of the spout, a shoulder formed intermediate said pouring neck and said body, a cap closing the opening'to said pouring neck and having an axial protuberance, a sealing strip fitting over said closure and having its opposite ends in engagement with the pouring spout adjacent said shoulder, said strip having an aperture through which said protuberance is adapted 1 to fit so as to prevent slipping of the strip relative to the cap, and means for clamping said ends against said shoulder so as to prevent removal of said cap without visibly afiecting said sealing strip.

4. The combination in a bottle closure, of an annular pouring spout member having a lateral base flange adapted to overlie the edge of a bottle neck, an encircling member having means engaging said flange and adapted to connect the spout to the bottle neck, and a flat annular reinforcing element lying flush against said flange in order to prevent distortion thereof when pressure is exerted upon said flange incident to af fixing the spout to the bottle neck. i

5. The combination in a bottle closure, of an annular pouring spout member having a bendable lateral base flange adapted to overlie the edge of a bottle neck, a resilient gasket between the flange and bottle neck, an encircling member having means engaging said flange and adaptedjto connect the spout to the bottle neck, and aflat annular reinforcing element lyingflushv against said flange between said flange and said means in order to prevent distortion of the flange when pressure is exerted thereon incident to aifixing the spout to the bottle neck. a

6. In a unitary device of the character described the combination of an annular sheet metal pouring spout member having a lateral base flange, an encircling member having means lying on opposite sides of the periphery of said flange for connecting the partspermanently and inseparably together, and a flat annular reinforcing element clamped by said means into 'flush engagement with one side of said flange and serving to prevent distortion thereof during assembly of the parts.

7. In a container closing device, the combina tion of a sheet metal generally annular member :20

dimensioned to fit about the mouth and neck of a container and to be permanently secured there} to, a detachable closure for the outer. end of said member, sealing means connected with said member to pass across said closure, andinterengageable means on said sealing means and closure for preventing lateral movement of said sealing means relative to said closure.

8. In a device of the character described for assuring the genuine character of the contents of a container, a closure member for the pouring outlet from the container having exterior surface for engagement by the fingers of a hand for removal from the outlet, said member having a crown protuberance, and a fragile strip extending across said member in such relation as to leave said exterior surface exposed and having its opposite ends fixedly secured against movem'ent relative to the container so that removal movement of said member will cause the strip to be torn, said stripincluding means in the portion overlying the crown of said member coactive with said crown protuberance to maintain the strip against transverse displacement from said crown.

9. Tamper resisting means adapted for assuring the bona fide nature of the contents of a con-.

tainer having a screw cap closure comprising a thin, readily destructible member having an en-- largement dimensionedto cover at least a part thereof to hold the member against accidental transverse displacement therefrom but enabling the closure to be manipulated for rotary movement relative to the member, and elongated portions extending from spaced outer marginal points on said enlargement to be clamped permanently and inseparably to the container adprotuberance and end portions extending along and beyond opposite side areas of said cap and exposing the sides of said cap between said end portions to permit the cap to be readily grasped and rotated, .and means for securing said end portions irreplaceably in position beyond said side areas taut enough to prevent lateral disp cement o said-intermediate part from said 50 of the top of the closure and to encircle a portion protuberance but permitting rotation of said cap to tighten the latter and assuring that said end portions will be permanently disrupted by unscrewing said cap.

11. In combination in a. bottle closure device, a generally tubular member having a discharge passage therethrough and including an annular lateral flange adapted to overlie the edge of a bottle neck, and a coaxial tubular element for securing said member to the bottle neck encircling said member and extending substantially beyond the opposite sides of said flange, said securing element including a skirt portion adapted to be permanently afiixed to the bottle neck and a converging portion beyond said skirt portion, said portions having a laterally projecting channel therebetween within which said flange is fixedly engaged and which defines a fixed position for saidflange to unite said members permanently together so that the device can be handled as an inseparable unit before application thereof to the bottle, a closure for said discharge passage, and means for preventing tampering.

12. A, tamper-proof closure device comprising, in combination, a tubular member having a lateral annular flange, a cap threaded on said member, a tamper-proof sealing strip extending across said cap and having its ends extendingv longitudinally along said cap and beyond the rim thereof, and a member for securing the device to a bottle neck including a portion projecting inwardly to engage and clamp said strip against said member as well as a skirt to engage the bottle neck and a channel between said portion and said skirt in which said flange is secured permanently to maintain a fixed clamping relationship of said portion upon said strip ends.

MERRILL M. KISTNER. 

